'X Factor' Top 8 sing No. 1 songs, Britney debuts video

Nov. 29, 2012
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Diamond White performs. / Ray Mickshaw, Fox

by Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

by Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

Facing another double elimination week, the Top 8 acts on X Factor took the stage Wednesday to sing No. 1 songs. Everyone was nervous, the $5 million recording contract looming only weeks away.

Also on the agenda: The world premiere of Britney Spears' new video, Scream & Shout with will.i.am. It's the first single from will's new album, #willpower, due next month. When the video debut was brought up by host Khloe Kardashian Odom, Britney looked scared and seemed to cringe, but told Khloe she was "really excited."

First, the performances.

Diamond White. The teen got the crowd rocking with I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston. It started slowly and then picked up into an uptempo beat, a change from the ballads Diamond's been belting out. Surrounded by dancers, she bopped a little herself, but clearly was focused on the notes as she was wheeled around the stage in a metal contraption. L.A. Reid gave her "an A for effort, but B for execution." Demi Lovato liked that she "had fun" but wants to see her "bring more to it." Simon Cowell said, "I don't know what else this girl could have brought! ... I think it was a really good and important performance for you." Britney said, "Diamond, I am so proud of you. I'd dance with you any day."

Vino Alan tackled You've Lost That Loving Feeling, singing it without one of his usual hats, showing off his tattooed head. He put some of his own musical twists on it, including a reggae lilt at one point, but otherwise sang the hit we all know and love. But Britney didn't love it. Demi didn't either. "I think you had a lot of soul in your voice but I wasn't totally entertained." Simon said Vino has a "very, very good singing voice," but that wasn't the right song for him. "You took a risk and it didn't work." L.A. Reid burst out laughing. "I completely, completely disagree." L.A. did say there were "some timing issues," but he supports Vino.

Paige Thomas wanted to showcase a "fun" side of herself, so she sang an urban-set Never Gonna Give You Up. Wearing ripped jeans, a white T-shirt and a leather jacket, she offered a sexy rendition of the Rick Astley song. The crowd seemed to love it. L.A. Reid said it was "by far your very best performance. You found your voice, you found you movement." Britney said, "I think this was a legitimate risk to take ... but I think it worked." Simon said, "This is the first time you have looked and sounded like a legitimate pop star." He added, "This sounded like you making a record." Simon wondered if she had made the decisions without Demi. Demi said she was "proud" and that they had worked together on the performance.

Fifth Harmony performed Kelly Clarkson's What Doesn't Kill You. It had been a rough week for the girls, as singer Ally Brooke learned that her grandfather died. "I know he wants me to continue on," she said, sobbing during rehearsals. The five looked fierce, wearing black with fiery images blazing behind them. L.A. offered his condolences about the death, but he didn't hear "harmony" and didn't hear "an original arrangement." Britney said she thought it worked "well for a group." Demi thought it was "one of the best performances," but they didn't move enough. Simon raved. "I can see you in the charts."

Carly Rose Sonsenclar, who was No. 1 last week with her stirring rendition of Over the Rainbow, went for another big song this week, singing Adele's Rolling in The Deep. Again, it was hard to believe that powerful voice was coming from that young girl. (She's 13.) L.A. Reid told her she is "insanely talented" and "really lovable." He didn't think it was her best, but "even your second best is better than everyone else's best." Demi said, "I just think you're so cute.... I got nothing. You're so good." Simon said, "I felt the first half of the song was good, the second half was sensational." He called her an alien -- something that's been brought up before -- but in a good way. Britney said she was glad they took Carly Rose "to the next level."

Tate Stevens covered Keith Urban's Somebody Like You and pulled it off nicely, commanding the stage and getting the crowd to clap along. Said Britney, "I'm sure we'll be seeing you accept a country music award someday." Demi praised the fact that he dedicates every song to his wife and, "one day when I get married I want my husband to love me as much as you love your wife." She also said he "had so much fun" on stage she felt like she was "back in Texas." Simon then chided her, saying, "That might be a bit of a tall order actually," a reference to Demi getting married. "At least I'll get married one day," she quipped. Simon answered with, "I might get married one day. You don't think I will?" They moved on to talk about Tate. Simon didn't like his dancing, but loved his singing. And, "You're so likable. It's something you and I have in common." L.A. said he was "proud."

Cece Frey, probably the most polarizing of all the contestants, sang Lady Marmalade. Prancing around in a boudoir-type stage setting, Cece didn't shy away from yelling out the high notes. Said L.A. Reid: "You're definitely a fighter. ... I actually enjoyed that circus." Britney said she felt Cece "definitely stepped it up a notch." Simon said he felt "like I'd eaten 62 portions of chocolate cake. ... There was way too much going on." He added, "My advice tonight is: Pack a suitcase." Demi said, "I think you came out swinging."

Before the final performance, we got to see the premiere of Brit-Brit's new video, Scream & Shout, with explicit lyrics turned into broadcast-appropriate words. Britney says repeatedly at the beginning of the song, "You gotta turn that (stuff) up." It became "turn it up, up."

"Britney, that was phenomenal!" said Khloe. "It was a hot video," said co-host Mario Lopez. "I can already see people bumping in the club."

Last group to perform: Emblem3. They had the girls squealing as they sang I'm a Believer. L.A. Reid said, "...I would sign you. You have the X Factor." Said Britney, "I'm a believer in you guys, but I didn't really like your song." Demi agreed. "I don't understand what Simon is doing with you guys. It's very predictable. Every week, I know you're going to be standing next to each other doing a song, but people are going to like you 'cuz you're good-looking and you're young." She didn't think they were "genuine." Simon totally disagreed. He told the group, "You guys have turned into pop stars."

Most likely to go home, based on judges' remarks: Cece Frey and Vino Alan.